BEDMINSTER, NJ - JULY 29: A general view of a LIV GOLF flag during round 1 of the LIV Golf Invitational Series during the first round on July 29, 2022 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JUL 29 LIV Golf Invitational Series Bedminster Icon2207296782
BEDMINSTER, NJ - JULY 29: A general view of a LIV GOLF flag during round 1 of the LIV Golf Invitational Series during the first round on July 29, 2022 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JUL 29 LIV Golf Invitational Series Bedminster Icon2207296782
The Korea Open just scrapped a historic prize money increase. Players were informed the tournament will revert to its original purse after LIV Golf withdrew a promised $500,000 boost.
The additional increase announced was more than 40%, from the original amount of KRW 1.4 billion to KRW 2 billion.
“With $500,000 in prize money support from LIV Golf, with whom we have been expanding our partnership, the winner's share will be 700 million won and the total purse 2 billion won, making this the largest tournament in its history,” the tournament organizers announced.
The Korea Open returns to Woo Jeong Hills Country Club after a two-year gap and will be played from May 21 to 24.
A total of five LIV Golfers are scheduled to tee it up on Thursday. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, New Zealand’s Danny Lee, and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer are some of the biggest names in the lineup.
South Korean golfer Minkyu Kim and Canada’s Richard T. Lee will also represent the team-based league.
The players were all set to compete for the record prize money, but then things took an unexpected turn on May 18.
“Due to reduced sponsorship, please be informed that the prize money for Kolon The 68th KOREA Open Golf Championship will revert back to the original amount of KRW 1,400,000,000. This does not affect points allocated to the tournament and it will remain as a Tier 2 event,” the organizers stated in an email to the players.
The tournament's financial shift follows the withdrawal of LIV Golf's funding. Despite the prize money U-turn, the organizers remain strongly committed to “delivering a world-class event for all competitors.”
The Kolon Korea Open remains part of the Open Championship Qualifying Series. The highest-finishing non-exempt player will secure a spot.
The specific reasons for the sudden funding withdrawal remain unconfirmed by organizers.
The Reason Behind LIV Golf’s Sudden Withdrawal
LIV Golf has organized events across the world, and the league has been determined to expand the reach of the sport.
“LIV Golf, which supports the global growth of golf, aims to contribute to the development of promising Korean players through this opportunity,” stated LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil.
However, the tour is at a crossroads. With the PIF ending its five-year partnership with LIV, the league is currently searching for new long-term investors.
O’Neil has introduced changes to its investment structure. In time, it will become clear whether LIV will be able to continue its mission of supporting the “global growth of golf.”
Trending slideshow: 25 Times LIV Golf Delivered Pure Drama on the Course
Dolly Bhamrick
25 Times LIV Golf Delivered Pure Drama on the CourseThink golf is quiet? Think again. These 25 dramatic LIV Golf moments, record rounds, eagles, and chaos have redefined how the game is played. Bold shots, theatrical finishes, and unforgettable atmospheres that define golf’s rebel league. From record-breaking rounds to party-hole madness, LIV has turned golf into a spectacle of swagger and spectacle. Get ready to relive the defining moments that made fans roar and purists rethink the game. Golffile Thos Caffrey/ImagoAt The Greenbrier, DeChambeau carved his name into history with LIV’s first-ever sub-60 round, firing a sensational 58 to storm to victory. He birdied four straight to close and won by six shots. It wasn’t just dominance; it was Bryson proving that innovation and power can rewrite what’s possible in modern golf. Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via ImagoWhen LIV arrived in Australia, the atmosphere at The Grange turned electric. Cameron Smith, leading Ripper GC, delivered a win that felt like a national celebration. Thousands followed him down the 18th, flags waving and chants echoing, a moment that showed how deeply LIV connects with local passion. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY SportsKoepka’s ace on Adelaide’s party hole, the par-3 12th, sparked a beer-soaked frenzy and global headlines. The “Watering Hole” crowd erupted into chaos, showering the air with cups and joy. That viral clip didn’t just sell a moment; it captured LIV’s personality: fun, fearless, and fan-first. Jasen Vinlove/ImagoTwo years later, in 2025, Reed matched the madness with a hole-in-one on the same 12th hole, sending grandstands into delirium. For a player known for intensity, his grin said it all. It was a perfect full-circle moment, proof that the Watering Hole has become LIV’s most iconic stage. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire/ImagoDown late on Sunday, Niemann birdied 16 and 17 to steal the title and silence the doubters. The win marked his third in LIV and cemented his reputation as one of its coldest closers. It was pure drama, a mix of redemption and adrenaline. Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire/ImagoFour shots back with a round to play, Varner surged past the field at Trump National D.C. to claim victory. His clutch putting and emotion-filled finish made it one of LIV’s most human moments, proof that resilience and heart still drive the sport. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY SportsBurmester drained a 20-footer for eagle on the final hole to clinch his win in Jeddah, punching the air as fans roared. It was power meeting poise, a perfect example of how LIV’s shotgun finales turn final holes into fireworks. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsFacing immense pressure, Gooch birdied three straight on the back nine to secure back-to-back LIV titles. That surge didn’t just win him Singapore; it made him the league’s first breakout superstar and earned him global respect. Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY SportsSlide 10 – Louis Oosthuizen – Hole-Out from Sand Trap at Centurion (2022)
At LIV’s inaugural event in London, Oosthuizen holed out from the bunker for birdie, sending the crowd into disbelief. It was a masterclass in touch and timing, a flash of brilliance that reminded everyone why his swing is considered art. Joaquin Corchero via IMAGO / ZUMA Press WireAfter decades of near-misses, Howell found redemption at Mayakoba, steadying himself through wind and nerves to win comfortably. It was the feel-good story LIV needed to prove that new beginnings can bring long-awaited triumphs. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via IMAGOKoepka battled nerves, extra holes, and stiff competition to capture his first LIV title in Jeddah. The victory signaled that the four-time major winner still thrives under pressure and that LIV events could deliver true championship tension. Golffile Steven Flynn/EDI/ImagoIn one of LIV’s earliest thrillers, Johnson drained a long eagle putt on the first playoff hole to seal victory. The crowd’s roar said it all; the league had its first genuine “wow” moment, and DJ had his stamp of authority. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire/ImagoSmith faced Gooch down the stretch, needing a birdie on 18, and delivered. It was composure under fire, the kind of finish that defined Smith’s LIV tenure and proved the league’s events can rival any Sunday showdown. Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY SportsTrapped in the trees and seemingly out of it, García made a miraculous recovery to save par and stay alive in contention. It didn’t win him the event, but it showed that creativity and grit still light up LIV fairways. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire/ImagoFresh off his 58, Bryson returned with an 11-birdie 61 in Chicago, pure dominance from tee to green. The back-to-back heroics confirmed that he wasn’t just LIV’s showman; he was redefining scoring standards altogether. Bob Donnan/USA Today SportsMickelson, ever the entertainer, pulled off a textbook flop-chip that found the cup, sending the gallery into nostalgia-fueled cheers. It wasn’t for the win, but it was classic Lefty, reminding fans why he remains golf’s ultimate showman. Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire/ImagoWith his team’s title hopes slipping, Rahm drained a long birdie to regain the lead and ignite the crowd. It was motion leadership, the emotional spark that showcased how team golf can hit just as hard as solo drama. Ben Hsu/Icon Sportswire/ImagoIn his debut LIV season, 21-year-old McKibbin held his own against stars, finishing top-10 in Jeddah. The Northern Irish youngster earned instant respect, proof that LIV’s next generation is already arriving. AP Photo/Mike Stewart, FileWhen the round hung in the balance, Pereira splashed out from the bunker to tap in for birdie, a textbook save under pressure. The shot summed up LIV’s tension-filled Sundays, where small moments decide everything. AP Photo/Eric GayGooch thrilled fans again with a hole-out eagle in Texas, flipping the leaderboard mid-round. It was momentum, magic, and madness all in one swing; another reason he’s become LIV’s drama magnet. Peter van den Berg via ImagoAfter finding water, Reed produced a daring recovery that splashed but spun to safety, then rolled in the putt for par. It was an escape act worthy of applause, the kind of moment that keeps fans glued till the last shot. Via IMAGOBryson went nuclear in Dallas, eagling consecutive par-5s to flip the script on the final day. It was pure power unleashed, two holes that summed up the thrill of LIV’s all-guns-blazing style. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY SportsKoepka rolled in a 20-footer on the last to claim his first LIV title, surrounded by the same raucous Adelaide crowd that cheered his ace years earlier. It was a full-circle redemption and pure sporting theater. Matt Turner via ImagoAt altitude, Bryson launched a jaw-dropping 488-yard drive that shattered LIV’s distance record. It was a physics-defying spectacle delivered, a viral moment that perfectly captured golf’s new era of muscle and madness. James Marsh/Shutterstock via ImagoWhile bombers stole headlines, Stenson plotted precision, hitting 13 of 14 fairways to secure a top-10 finish. His measured play was a reminder that amid LIV’s chaos, precision still has a quiet, dramatic beauty of its own. Golffile Stefano DiMaria/EDI/Imago
